“IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD!”

 1 Samuel 2:26; 3:1-14                                    (ESV)

“[26] Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and “IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD” and also with man.”

The LORD Calls Samuel

“[1] Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

[2] At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. [3] The lamp of GOD had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of GOD was.

[4] Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” [5] and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he (Eli) said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

[6] And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” [7] NOW SAMUEL DID NOT YET KNOW THE LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

[8] And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. [9] Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

[10] And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” [11] Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. [12] On that day I will fulfill AGAINST ELI all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. [13] And I declare to him (Eli) that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming GOD, and he did not restrain them. [14] Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.””

Just because a person has been chosen by men to hear from GOD does NOT indicate that person knows THE LORD.  The sons of Eli, the priest, “…were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.”  (1 Samuel 2:12).  Eli attempted to correct his sons (1 Samuel 2:22-25), but they were not able to HEAR the warnings from their father.  

Samuel, on the other hand, DID hear from GOD, even though he wasn’t sure what he was hearing.  He had to go to Eli and get directions on what he was hearing, and ultimately WHO he was hearing from!  He was honored to HEAR from GOD, while the sons of Eli were busy hearing what “this world” was speaking to them.  

Who we CHOOSE to listen to says a great deal about what we HEAR!  Some are incapable of HEARING from Heaven because they are NOT CHOSEN!  The sons of Eli were selected by their earthly father to be priests, but ALMIGHTY GOD rejected them.   Samuel was raised by Eli, the parent of the two sons that were rejected by GOD to be servants of HIM. 

Some might consider it a bit braggadocious to let it be known that we have been found “IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD”.  But when we are able to SEE who we are outside of JESUS, our EYES can not SEE anything but how BLESSED we are!  I will forever sing the song that I am “IN FAVOR WITH THE LORD”!!!